Disabilty Empowerment Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER HELPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FIND AND ACCESS THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO LEAD SUCCESSFUL AND INDEPENDENT LIVES.
- Income
- $1.1 million
- Spending
- $1.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- -0.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 11
- Highest pay
- $90,012, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 103% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $922,029 spent. SINCE 1977, DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER HAS BEEN A GRASSROOTS DISABILITY ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION SERVING KING COUNTY. SINCE OUR FOUNDING AS THE WASHINGTON COALITION OF CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, WE HAVE BEEN A LEADER IN ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS TO REACH THEIR INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS AND EDUCATING AGENCIES AND THE PUBLIC ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER SERVES OVER 3,000 CONSUMERS PER YEAR AND IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN KING COUNTY THAT PROVIDES SERVICES SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF A PERSON IDENTIFYING AS EXPERIENCING ANY DISABILITY. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS A PEER-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION, STAFF, BOARD AND LEADERSHIP LIVE THE VALUES OF INDEPENDENT LIVING AND SELF-DETERMINATION. THEY ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN LIVING WITH A DISABILITY AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. HAVING DIRECT SERVICE STAFF THAT REPRESENT OUR PARTICIPANT POPULATION IS A REQUIREMENT OF APEER SUPPORT ENVIRONMENT AND CONSUMER-LED ORGANIZATION. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF HAVE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN COMBINED YEARS' EXPERIENCE DIRECTLY SERVING CONSUMERS WITH DISABILITIES. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF PROVIDE BOTH A PEER CONNECTION TO CONSUMERS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS TO SUPPORT CONSUMERS WITH CULTURALLY COMPETENT AND RELEVANT SERVICES. PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS COME TO US FOR OUR EXPERTISE IN SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND WE GO TO THEM TO HELP US LEARN. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROVIDED OVER 900 HOURS OF CONSULTATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY ON DISABILITIES AT THE REQUEST OF BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES LAST YEAR. THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTER (CIL) PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON. INDEPENDENT LIVING HAS TO DO WITH SELF-DETERMINATION; IT IS HAVING THE RIGHT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE A FULL LIFE. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF PROVIDE FIVE CORE SERVICES TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN REACHING THEIR GOALS: - PEER SUPPORT: INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AS A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY PROVIDING 1:1 AND GROUP SERVICES TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. - INFORMATION & REFERRAL: PROVIDING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ON DISABILITY TOPICS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES AND REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. - ADVOCACY: INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY: TEACHING AND MODELING SKILLS TO OBTAIN NECESSARY SUPPORT SERVICES FROM AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY; - SYSTEMATIC ADVOCACY: STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS, CONSUMERS AND VOLUNTEERS INITIATING ACTIVITIES TO MAKE CHANGES IN LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND FEDERAL POLICY THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY. - INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING: PROVIDING 1:1 AND GROUP SERVICES ON SELF-IDENTIFIED AND/OR COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED SKILLS SUCH AS USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, MANAGING A PERSONAL BUDGET OR OTHER TOPICS THAT ENABLE AN INDIVIDUAL TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY OR MANAGE LIFE WITH A DISABILITY. - TRANSITION SERVICES: ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO MOVE OUT OF NURSING HOMES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS INTO INDEPENDENT LIFESTYLES OF THEIR CHOICE; HELPING TO PREVENT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM ENTERING INSTITUTIONS; AND ASSISTING YOUTH IN TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO ADULT LIFE, INCLUDING THE NEXT STEPS FOR GOING TO COLLEGE OR OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS WHICH ELIMINATE BARRIERS DUE TO COST. TO ENSURE RELEVANT SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, WE COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS SERVING VETERANS, SENIORS, AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. WE PROVIDE SUBJECT EXPERTS IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIVES. AS A STATEWIDE LEADER IN DISABILITY EQUITY, ACCESS AND INCLUSION, AND DISABILITY INTERSECTIONALITY WITH OTHER MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES, DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER SERVES THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION. LAST YEAR, DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROVIDED OVER 1600 HOURS OF CONSULTATION, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY ON DISABILITIES AT THE REQUEST OF BUSINESSES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER IS A TRUSTED, STABLE, AND RELIABLE EXPERT AND ADVOCATE FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY. WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SERVING AS A LOCAL EXPERT ON DISABILITY EQUITY, ACCESS AND INCLUSION. THE DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF WORK WITHIN ADVOCACY NETWORKS TO EXPAND AWARENESS AND SYSTEMATIC PROGRESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING BIPOC CONSUMER NEEDS AND OUR MISSION WITHIN OUR COUNTY TO SUPPORT LGBTQIA COMMUNITY MEMBERS. OUR PRESENCE IN VIRTUAL ADVOCACY EVENTS CONFIRMS BOTH OUR WILLINGNESS TO EXPLORE REMOTE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION AND RESOLVE TO STAFF THESE EVENTS WHILE DEVELOPING TECHNICAL PLATFORMS TO CONTINUE SERVING CUSTOMERS SINCE THE PANDEMIC. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER CONTINUED ITS WORK IN COMMUNITY AWARENESS WITH A FOCUS ON AN EMBEDDED AGENCY HOME CARE PROVIDER INVOLVED IN MONITORING CONSUMER SERVICE CONDITIONS. DISABILITY EMPOWERMENT CENTER STAFF ADVOCATE FOR BROAD AWARENESS OF VISIBLE AND NON-VISIBLE DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION AND THE IMPACT OF ABLEISM.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1977.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.